TECH´S EYE VIEW Leave a comment
In this brand new feature, we’ll be taking a peek at a fellow dental technician’s bench. This month, we get nosey with Chris Golze, owner of XSDental
My work ‘bench’ layout has evolved over many years. I’ve tried different things in the labs I’ve worked in to see what works and to make it as efficient a space as possible.
I’ve found a ‘U’ or ‘L’ shaped station allows me to have everything to hand and also makes the best most of a relatively small space.
Starting from left to right…
You can see my Scheu Biostar and Ministar pressure formers – the backbone of our business! They are reliable, easy to use and give great results.
Next are the IKEA shelving units, I know a lot of labs do their fit out using furniture from the much-loved Scandinavian brand. Custom built would probably be better but these have worked well. I’ve found having everything in view allows to me to monitor stock levels, as I can instantly see what’s in or needs ordering.
All my hand tools are just a reach away mounted on magnetic strip. Using this keeps them to nearby without them rolling around on the bench where they’re likely to end up on the floor!
The grey under-bench drawer is from my first bench when I started in a lab in 1994! I believe that fit out was originally done by John Winters and this is the only part of it I’ve kept. It now houses my extraction (a simple sink plug hole) with the vacuum unit housed within the bench alongside the air compressor.
Helping hands
Speaking of recycling, the bench worktop and pressure former base unit came from my friend Andy Fairbanks’ old lab! I also have a micromotor from Pete Harling, model trimmer from Dave Baldry, induction heater from Phil Reddington and compressor from Lee Torrington. These dudes definitely need a shout out for what they’ve done for me. A great example of how technicians help each other. Thanks guys!
It might not be cutting edge, it might not be pretty, but it works extremely well. Technicians are often called artists and I think this fits in pretty well with that.
